Canopy for boats



Feb. 18, .1958 o. F. SARTORI 2,823,684

CANOPY FOR BOATS- Filed Jan. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. 0514 1100 F. .SAETQZ/ ATfOZ/VEYS Feb. 18, 1958 O. F. SARTORI CANOPY FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20. 1956 F/G. a

' I INVENTOR. 0.5144100 K JAZTOE/ BY Y ATTOE/VEYS United States Patent O CANOPY FOR BOATS Osvaldo F. Sartori, Sacramento, Calif.

Application January 20, 1956, Serial No. 560,320

3 Claims. (Cl. 1356) This invention relates to boat canopies, and more particularly has reference to a canopy adapted to be folded into a highly compact article, so as to occupy a minimum. of'space when not in use, with the canopy being extendable over a substantial area when in use for the purpose of providing protection for the boat occupants.

One important object of the present invention is to provide. a canopy which will be swiftly removable from position after being collapsed, so as to be adapted to be packed. into. a relatively small bag, or other container, and stored away in a suitable space.

A further object is to provide a canopy which will be particularly designed to be foldable in two directions, that is: both transversely and longitudinally of the boat, with the canopy when folded longitudinally being so disposed as to be capable. of being swiftly erected in extendedposition, this being desirable in the event of a sudden squall, etc. The canopy, when folded transversely, is adapted to: be. disposed against the side of the boat, in an out-of-the-wayposition, and in this stage of collapse of the canopy, can be removed bodily from brackets pro videclv upon the. boat, for storage.

. A further object of importance is too provide an improved means for detachably connecting the canopy to said brackets.

further object of importance is to provide an improved assembly of connected supports or braces, which assembly will'be. especially adapted for facilitating the adjustment of the'component parts thereof between fullycollapsed'and. extended positions.

, A. further object is to design: the canopy in such a manner as to providea strong bracing of the covering thereof'whenever the canopy is extended. 7

' Stillanother object of importance is to form a. canopy of. the. type described which can be mounted on any of.

various. small or large boats, such as row boats, sea skills, cabin cruisers, etc.

Still another object is to provide a canopy of the: type referred towhich; will be: capable of manufacture at low cost, can be mounted upon the boat without the requirement of specially skilled workers, and. will be; designed to facilitate replacement of the covering thereof whenever desired.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed: drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout. the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of'a canopy frame. formed: according to the present invention, mounted upon a; boat only a fragmentary portion of which is shown, thedottedlines showing the. frame in collapsed. position;

- Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view substantially on: line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail sectional. view showing. the connection between the: transverse brace members; Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional viewof the support bracket, substantially online- 4-4 of Figure l; 7

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the bracket on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is any enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the. bracket on line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the keeper of the bracket;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figurev 1 showing a modified construction;

Figure 9 is. a transverse sectional view on line 99 of Figure 8;

FigurelO is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of. the connection between the transverse brace members, in the form. of the invention shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 12 is afragmentary bottom plan view of the transverse brace members as seen from the. line 12-42 of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings indetail, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a boat on which the canopy may be. mounted. The boat can be of any of various. types, and the canopy is particularly designed to be removably mounted upon the boat, so that the canopy can be. dismounted in its entirety, or alternatively, collapsed against one side of the boat where it will be ready to be erected swiftly in the event of an emergency making desirable: the protection of the boat occupants.

The canopy includes a pair of support plates 12 secured by screws 16 to the. opposite sides of the boat, in transverse alignment. The plates 12 extend longitudinally of the boat, each plate being formed with inwardly turned side flanges 14.

Removabl-y engageable inthe respective plates 12 are brackets; of inverted T-shape in cross section, said brackets' including. bottom plates 18'slidably' engageable in the flanged plates 12, and upstanding plate members 20.

Pivotally connected to: the forward edges of the plate. members 20 are keepers 22, they particular shape of which.

is'shownin Figure; 7,. Each keeper, as will beseen, includes a reduced inner end portion and a wider outer end portion, the inner end portion having a bight extending through an opening formed in the upstanding platemember 20; The keepers swing upwardly and downwardly upon their associated plate members. 20, and integrally formed on the front ends of the plates 12 are upwardly inclined tongues. or extensions 24, over which the keepers 22 are adapted to engage. It will be seen that whenever the keepers are engaged with the tongues, the plate members. 2.0. are held against movement in either direction longitudinally of their associated support plates 12. The inclined tongues 24 prevent movement of the plate members 20 to the left. in Figure 6, by engaging the forward edges. of, the bottom plates 18 of'the brackets, while the keepers, engaging the tongues 24., prevent movement of the. brackets in an opposite direction.

It will be understood that brackets of the type described are attached to both'sid'es of the boat, and that the side rib assemblies, to be discussed: immediately hereinafter, are duplicated at the opposite: sides. Accordingly, the description of the ribs on one side. will suifice for those on the other.

- Each side rib assembly includes a main rib 26 having at its inner end a curving extension, said extension being curved through approximately degrees and being extended in contact with the upstanding plate member 20 of the bracket. The main rib 26 is a stationary rib, being fixedly connected. to the bracket in a position in which theelongated, straight main portion of the main rib extends in closely spaced, parallel relation to the top edge I of the associated side wall of the boat;

The extension of the main rib 26 is connected to the plate member by a bolt or pin 28, at the inner end of said extension. The outer end of the extension projects upwardly from the plate member 20, as at 30. A second side rib 32 is pivotally connected by a pin 34 to the plate member 20, the pin 34 passing through the curved extension of the side rib 26 to cooperate with the pin 28 in fixedly connecting the main rib to the bracket. The rib 32 is spaced from a third rib 36 pivotally connected to the upper end of extension 30 by a pin 38, at one side of extension 30. At the other side of the extension 30, a fourth rib 40 is connected to the extension by said pin 38.

Extending between the ribs 40, 26 is a jointedlocking brace comprising brace elements 42, 44 pivotally connected at their outer ends to the ribs 40, 26 and pivotally connected at their inner ends to each other by means of a pin 46. The member 44 has a locking extension 48 extending beyond the pin 46, said extension 48 having a flange adapted to engage with the brace member 42 when the members 42, 44 are extended in longitudinal alignment, so as to constitute said members as a rigid brace when the canopy is raised.

Transverse brace members 50, 52, 54, 56 are pivotally connected at 58, 60, 62, 64 respectively to the outer ends of the ribs 26, 32, 36, 40 respectively. Referring now to Figure 2, the transverse brace members connected to the side ribs at one side of the boat are pivotally connected, at their inner ends, to the inner ends of corresponding brace members connected to the side ribs of the other side of the boat. Thus, as shown in Figure 2, brace member 54 is connected to a brace member 66, the connection being effected by pivot pin 68 passing through the overlapping inner ends of the brace members 54, 66. The other transverse brace members are similarly connected to associated transverse brace members extending from the other side of the boat.

A locking hinge connection is employed between the brace members. This is shown to particular advantages in Figure 3, wherein it is seen that the member 54 is provided with a pawl 70, adjacent the pivot pin 68. The pawl 70 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 72, and is normally urged in a counterlockwise direction about said pin, viewing the same as in Figure 3, by means of a spring 74 connected between the pawl and a screw attached to the member 54.

The member 66, adjacent the pivot pin 68, has a small locking notch 76, and spaced approximately 180 degrees about the pivot axis 68, is a wide, flaring notch 78 formed upon the member 66.

When the transverse brace members or cross ribs are extended across the boat, as shown in full lines in Figure 2, the pawl will ride upon the rounded end edge of the cross rib 66, until it engages in the notch 76, the pawl being biased in said notch by the spring 74. This locks the ribs 54, 66 against collapse. At such time as it is desired to collapse the ribs, the pawl is pressed downwardly, to the right of the pivot 72, to disengage the same from the notch 76. Then, the ribs 54, 66 are swung downwardly, to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 2, and when they are fully collapsed, they extend in substantially parallel relation, in approximately vertical paths. The pawl by this time will have moved about the rounded edge of the member 66 once again, and in the fully collapsed positions of the ribs 54, 66 will engage in the wide, flaring notch 78.

Designated at 80 is a windshield of the boat, and at 82 there has been shown in dotted lines a covering of the canopy assembly. The covering is connected at its forward edge to the windshield, and at its rear edge is connected to the outer ends of the main ribs 26. The covering, as will be understood, is tensioned over the sides and top of the canopy frame as shown in Figure 2, and when the canopy frame is fully collapsed, the covering is collapsed in folds between the several pairs of cross ribs.

When the canopy frame is collapsed, as a first step the 4 I covering is removed, after which the canopy frame is swung to the dotted line position of Figure l, the several side ribs swinging upon the pins 34, 38. Then, the hinge lock of the cross ribs is disengaged in the manner previously described herein, and the cross ribs are folded, with the bracket plate 13, 20 at one side of the boat removed from its associate-d support plate 12. This permits the canopy to be folded transversely of the boat as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the canopy is fully-collapsed by first swinging the side ribs about horizontal axes extending transverseiy of the canopy and defined by the pins 34, 38, and then by collapsing the transverse bracing means by relative pivotal movement of the cross ribs about horizontal axes extending normally-to'the first named axes, that is longitudinally of the boat. The longitudinal axes are defined by the pivot pins 62, 68 in Figure 2.

As previously noted, the side rib assembly at one side of the boat is removed from its associatedsupportrplate 12 during the collapse of the canopy frame. Then,the canopy frame is disengaged from the support plate 12 at the other side of the boat, and this permits the entire" canopy frame to be removed and packed away in a re'la i tively small area. A suitable bag or container can be pro vided for the collapsed frame capable of being packed in a storage locker or the like.

In Figures 8-12 there is shown a modified construc* tion, mounted upon a boat generally designated at 84 having a windshield 86. In this form of the invention, there are provided stationary support brackets 88 of zig-zag or Z-shape as shown in Figure 11, these being integrally formed with upstanding plate members having openings receiving the inwardly turned extensions 92 of main side ribs 90.

The extensions 92 are threaded to receive wing nuts 94, which are turned home against the brackets to hold the side ribs assembled with the brackets.

Receiving the intermediate portions of the side ribs are sleeves 96, having upwardly projecting ears. Auxil iary side ribs 98 are pivotally connected at 100 to the ears, and at their outer ends the auxiliary ribs are respectively connected to cross ribs 102, 104 by means of pivot pins 106, 108. The cross ribs are pivotally connected to each other at their inner ends as at 110, and pawl means 112' is employed to hold the cross ribs in their extended position. I r

The pawl means has been shown in detail in Figures 11- and 12, and comprises a stout piece of wire or rod material bent to a rectangular shape, one end 114 of the pawl extending through an opening formed in the inner end portion of the cross rib 102. A spring 116 has an intermediate coil passing about the end 114, one end of the spring being engaged under the cross rib 102 and the other end bearing against the underside of the pawl 112 to normally urge the same upwardly. Limiting downward swinging movement of the pawl against the restraint of the spring is a lateral extension 118 formed upon one end of) the pawl and bearing against the underside 'of the cross ri 102.

At its outer end, the pawl has a transverse portion removably engaging in a downwardly opening notch 120 of the cross rib 104.

In this arrangement, to open or collapse the hingedly connected cross ribs one pulls downwardly upon the pawl or lock element 112, to swing the same out of engagement with the notch. This frees the cross ribs for downward swinging movement.

Whenever the canopy frame is to be collapsed and removed, the wing nut 94 at one side is removed, and the main side rib at this side is disengaged from the associated support bracket 88. This permits the canopy frame to be collapsed in a transverse direction to the dotted line position shown in Figure 9, and of course, the canopy frame may now also be collapsed in a longitudinal direction, that is, about the horizontal transverse axis defined by the extensions 92, with the side rib 98 being swingable about the pin 100 into closely spaced relation to the main rib 90 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8.

When the frame is open, a covering 124 is connected between the windshield 86 and the cross ribs 122 extending between the outer ends of the main ribs 90. Tie straps 126 are then tensioned between the outer ends of the side ribs 90 and brackets 128 that are secured to the sides of the boat.

In both forms of the invention, there is the characteristic wherein the canopy frame can be swiftly adjusted to collapsed or extended positions, with said frame being adapted to be left partially collapsed following folding of the several ribs about the horizontal, transverse axes, the canopy frame being alternatively capable of being fully collapsed and removed by transverse folding and detachment from the associated stationary brackets carried by the sides of the boat.

It may be noted that the canopy frame shown in Figure l is adapted to be used at locations other than on boats. For example, the canopy frame of Figure 1 might be used in providing a pup tent, so that one could remove the frame, and erect the same on the ground to provide shelter overnight. In this event, the covering would have an extension portion extending from the rib 40 at an incline to the ground surface and connected to the main covering portion designated at 82 in Figure 1.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A canopy frame comprising a pair of channel-shaped support plates adapted to be fixed axially on the upper edges of the opposing sides of a boat, a bracket member slidably and removably engageable in each support plate and having upstanding mounting portions, means for locking the bracket members in place in the support plates, a main side rib having an end disposed alongside the mounting portion, said main side rib being adapted to' extend axially from the bracket member substantially in a horizontal plane, said end of the main side rib being upwardly curved and pivoted to the mounting portion, at least one other side rib pivoted at its lower end to the mounting portion and to the end of the main side rib and at least two additional side ribs pivoted at their lower ends, to the curved end of the main rib, brace means connected between the main side rib and one of said additional side ribs, said side ribs constituting a side rib assembly and being movable about their respective pivots from a collapsed position to a raised position in which they are spaced apart and held in such spaced relationship by the brace means, and a plurality of cross ribs pivotally connected between the side ribs of the side rib assemblies at each side of the boat and adapted to extend across the boat, said cross ribs having outer ends pivoted to the side ribs and having inner ends pivoted together and automatically operable locking means carried by the inner ends for locking the cross ribs in extended positions.

2. A canopy frame comprising a pair of mounting means adapted to be fixed on a supporting means and disposed in transversely spaced, longitudinally aligned relation, a main side rib adapted to extend longitudinally from each mounting means and having an upwardly curved end pivoted to the mounting means, at least one other side rib pivoted at its lower end to each mounting means and to the curved end, at least two additional side ribs pivoted at their lower ends to the curved end above the pivot point for the curved end, said side ribs on each mounting means constituting a side rib assembly and said ribs of each assembly being movable from collapsed substantially horizontal positions to raised spread apart positions and cross ribs extending between the side ribs of each side assembly and having outer ends pivoted to the side ribs and inner ends pivoted together, automatically operable locking means carried by the inner ends to lock them in substantially horizontal positions and brace means connected to the side ribs for locking them in extended positions.

3. In a canopy frame assembly, a pair of spaced apart side rib assemblies each including a plurality of side ribs, cross ribs extending between the side rib assemblies and each cross rib including a section pivoted at its outer end to one of the side ribs, said sections having inner adjoining ends pivoted together, the inner end of one section being formed on its underside and on its upperside and adjacent the pivot point with a notch, an angular pawl pivoted intermediate its ends to the inner end of the other section, said pawl having a free end adapted to enter the notches and selectively lock the sections in substantially aligned relation and in collapsed parallel relation and spring means connected between the other section and the pawl for urging the free end of the pawl into the notches when the sections are moved into substantial alignment, and when they are collapsed into side by side parallel relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 425,540 Forbriger Apr. 15, 1890 858,854 Broch July 2, 1907 2,513,764 Vonder Ahe July 4, 1950 2,543,597 Peery Feb. 27, 1951 2,689,579 Sartori Sept. 21, 1954 

